MLB Rumors

Pirates reliever Mike Zagurski refused his assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis Wednesday, and has been granted free agency, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Zagurski cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tuesday, but will now try to catch on with another team.

Orioles catcher Taylor Teagarden delivered a three-run homer in a six-run fourth inning during Wednesday's 13-3 win at Detroit. It was his first home run this season.

"It feels great. It makes me feel like Adam Jones for an inning," Teagarden told The Baltimore Sun.

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones had a two-run double and finished with three RBI during Wednesday's 13-3 rout of the Tigers. Jones, who has 22 doubles and 54 RBI, finished 2 for 5 with two runs.

He extended his hitting streak to eight games and has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games. Jones is batting .320 (16 for 50) with four doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI in his last 12 games. 

Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth rapped out three hits, including two doubles, and scored twice in five at-bats Wednesday against the Tigers. McLouth, who also had his 24th stolen base, has 15 doubles.

McLouth entered play Wednesday batting .171 (6 for 35) with one double and eight walks in his previous 10 games.

Tigers reliever Jose Valverde's recent pitching woes continued during a non-save situation Wednesday against the Orioles. Valverde entered Wednesday's game in the ninth inning with Detroit trailing 9-3, but by the time the inning was over the deficit grew to 13-3.

The Orioles scored four runs off Valverde before he recorded an out. Adam Jones had a two-RBI double and Chris Davis connected for a two-run homer. Valverde then settled down to finally work out of trouble. He was charged with five hits and struck out one batter.

Valverde's ERA rose to 5.59, as it was the second time in his last eight outings he allowed four runs.

The good times came to a screeching halt for Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello during Wednesday's 13-3 loss to the Orioles. Porcello, who was 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA in his previous nine starts, was charged with six runs on nine hits in six innings in the losing effort.

Porcello was in cruise control until the Orioles broke open the game with a six-run fourth inning. Chris Davis started the onslaught with a two-run homer and Taylor Teagarden followed up four batters later with a three-run homer. The right-hander didn't issue a walk and struck out four, while losing for the second time in four starts.

Porcello will look to get back into the win column Tuesday against the Angels. Porcello had a disastrous start against Los Angeles April 20, allowing nine runs on nine hits and one walk in two-thirds inning.

Rays starter David Price will make his first rehab start with Class A Charlotte Friday in Bradenton, The Tampa Tribune reports. 

Manager Joe Maddon said Price's schedule will depend on how well he feels from start to start. The Rays are hopeful he can return by the All-Star break. 

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig stayed hot with two more hits in Wednesday's loss to the Yankees.

Puig finished 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. He now has nine multi-hit games in 13 starts. Amazingly, his batting line fell to .472/.491/.755 from .479/.500/.771 as a result of the relatively off day.

Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman held Detroit to three runs in five-plus innings, leading Baltimore to a 13-3 win Wednesday. Tillman (8-2) allowed seven hits and three walks, while striking out one.

Tillman has won four straight starts and five straight decisions. He hasn't lost in six starts and the Orioles have scored at least nine runs in four of Tillman's last six starts.

The right-hander will aim for his ninth win Monday against the Indians. He's 1-1 with a 5.27 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in three career starts against Cleveland.

Yankees outfielder Ichiro Suzuki homered and drove in three runs during the opener of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers. Suzuki hit a solo home run off Hyun-Jin Ryu leading off the sixth inning and added two more RBI on a single with the bases loaded in the seventh.

Suzuki, who has three home runs, finished 3 for 4 with two runs. He's batting .455 (10 for 22) with one home run, one double and three RBI in his last six games (five starts).